A sparkling expression of one of England's most distinctive grape varieties.
Winbirri Vineyard Sparkling Bacchus is made in Norfolk from 100% estate-grown Bacchus grapes using the traditional method – the same method of secondary fermentation in bottle associated with Champagne and many of the world's finest sparkling wines.
Produced in Norfolk by Winbirri →
The nose is fresh and aromatic, with elderflower, capsicum and gooseberry, while fine bubbles carry a crisp, dry freshness across the palate. Extended ageing on the lees brings subtle brioche notes, adding complexity and balance without losing the vibrant character of the Bacchus grape.
The result is a refined and expressive Norfolk sparkling wine that combines the aromatic freshness for which Bacchus is known with the complexity that comes from traditional-method sparkling wine production.
Serve well chilled – preferably with good food, good company and, as Winbirri rather nicely suggests, a little sunshine.
What does Winbirri Sparkling Bacchus taste like?
This is a crisp, dry and aromatic sparkling wine.
Expect lifted aromas of elderflower, capsicum and gooseberry, followed by fine bubbles and refreshing acidity.
Extended lees ageing contributes subtle brioche notes, providing a softer, more complex counterpoint to Bacchus's naturally fresh and aromatic character.
What is Bacchus?
Bacchus is a white grape variety that has become particularly associated with English wine.
It's prized for its aromatic character and fresh acidity, often producing wines with notes of elderflower, gooseberry and other green or herbaceous characteristics.
It's most commonly encountered as a still white wine, which makes this traditional-method sparkling Bacchus a particularly interesting way to discover the grape.
Is Bacchus usually made into sparkling wine?
Bacchus is perhaps best known in England for producing aromatic still white wines, but it can also be used to produce sparkling wine.
Here, Winbirri uses 100% Bacchus, rather than incorporating it into a blend, allowing the grape's distinctive aromatic character to remain at the heart of the finished wine.
What does 'traditional method' sparkling wine mean?
Traditional-method sparkling wine undergoes its second fermentation inside the bottle.
The wine then spends time ageing on its lees – the spent yeast from fermentation – which can contribute additional complexity and characteristic flavours such as bread, toast and brioche.
In Winbirri's Sparkling Bacchus, that lees ageing provides the subtle brioche character that sits alongside the fresher elderflower and gooseberry notes.
Where is Winbirri Sparkling Bacchus made?
Winbirri Vineyard is a Norfolk vineyard, and this wine is produced from 100% estate-grown Bacchus grapes.
That means the grapes used to make the wine are grown by Winbirri itself rather than being bought in from vineyards elsewhere.
For anyone looking to discover wine grown and produced in Norfolk, this is a particularly interesting bottle.
What food goes with Sparkling Bacchus?
Its dry, crisp character and fresh acidity make this an excellent partner for lighter foods.
Try it with:
- Seafood and shellfish
- Fresh fish
- Summer salads
- Light starters
- Goat's cheese
- Soft, fresh cheeses
- Canapés and appetisers
Or simply serve it well chilled as an aperitif.
How should Winbirri Sparkling Bacchus be served?
Serve well chilled.
It's an obvious celebratory bottle, but sparkling wine doesn't need to wait for a celebration. Its freshness and acidity make it particularly good with food and an excellent choice for summer lunches, picnics and outdoor entertaining.
Is Winbirri Sparkling Bacchus vegan?
Yes. Winbirri Sparkling Bacchus is suitable for both vegans and vegetarians.
Why we like it
Bacchus has become one of the grapes most closely associated with English wine, but most people will have encountered it as a still white.
So making a traditional-method sparkling wine entirely from estate-grown Norfolk Bacchus immediately makes this interesting.
You still get those wonderfully recognisable fresh Bacchus characteristics – elderflower, gooseberry and green notes – but with fine bubbles and a touch of brioche from the lees ageing.
It's unmistakably English and, more importantly for us, unmistakably Norfolk.
Producer: Winbirri Vineyard
Origin: Norfolk, England
Grape: 100% Bacchus
Grapes: Estate grown
Style: Traditional-method sparkling wine
Taste: Crisp, dry and aromatic
ABV: 12%
Suitable for: Vegetarians and vegans
Serving: Well chilled